HIKING IN UPPER NACHAL AMUD:

 

• Walk along the exit road directly opposite the gift shop and you will soon see a broad footpath on your right. It is not marked but everyone is walking along it. There is a garbage area surrounded by a white metal barrier on the right at the beginning of the trail and a working water tap on the other side of the path. You will soon see that this is a red-marked trail. Continue along this trail until you come to a concrete lookout (#2 on the map in the brochure).

 

This lookout was built after the 1936 to 1939 Arab riots during the British Mandate period to guard the water pumping station at Ein Yakim that supplied water to Safed.

 

• Continue down the steps on the red-marked trail until you reach the spring of Ein Yakim.  After exploring the spring, take the black-marked trail sign-posted to Sekhvi Pools.

 

• Shortly, the path splits into two. Continue straight ahead on the blue-marked trail which runs parallel to and a bit above the stream. This part of the hike has little shade. If it is extremely hot, you may wish to make this a one-way hike and walk along the black-marked trail on the other side of the stream, as this provides a lot more shade.

 

You will notice an aqueduct on your right. It had two functions. It is on a higher level than the descending stream, and Ein Yakim spring could therefore provide water for agriculture in the bustan (orchard) (#7). The flowing water also provided power for the flour mill (#10).

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• The blue-marked trail descends closer to the stream and reaches the Sekhvi Pools (#11). This is one of a number of pools you will pass that can be used for swimming. None are particularly deep and are no more than up to an adult’s waist.

 

• To return to your staring point, cross over the stream by the pool. Turn left in the direction signposted to Ein Yakim and Amud Stream Picnic Area. This part of the trail has considerable beauty in that it adjoins the stream for much of the way.

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• This path eventually meets up with the blue-marked trail after again crossing the stream. Turn to the right on the black-marked trail in the direction of Ein Yakim. At Ein Yakim, take the red-marked trail up the steps to your car.

 

Lengthening your hike:

 

• There are a number of ways for lengthening your hike. You can start hiking from the outskirts of Meron on the Nahal Meron trail. This rocky trail joins up with the above Upper Nahal Amud trail at Ein Yakim, a distance of 2.5 km. Enter “Nahal Meron” into Waze and click on “חניון נחל מירון.” There is parking here. You will go under the bridge to get to the beginning of the trail.

 

• It is possible to hike along Nahal Sekhvi from the Sekhvi Pools to Safed , a distance of 2.5 Km. This will bring you the Old Cemetery at Safed. It is also possible, of course, start your hike at Meron and hike all the way to Safed. To get back to your car, walk up from the cemetery in Safed to the main city road Jerusalem St. and take a taxi back to Meron.

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Hiking in Lower Nahal Amud:

 

• There are also other entry points into Nahal Amud.  An exceptional hike starts a short distance beyond Lake Kinneret by Route 8077. Enter into Waze “Nahal Amud.” This will take you along Route 8077 in the direction of Hukok. Waze will direct you into Kibbutz Hukok. Before this and shortly after turning onto Route 8077 look for the signpost to Nahal Amud. There is parking on the side of the road.

 

• You can go in either direction, but going up the wadi is incredibly beautiful. Note the tall pillar not far from Route 8077 by Ein Amud. Amud means a pillar in Hebrew and Nahal Amud is so-called because of this pillar. Hike as far as you like. However, a reasonable place to turn around is at the National Water Carrier at Tsera Lookout Point. Note that the National Carrier crosses the Amud Stream in steel pipes and then goes up the other side of the bank. The steel pipe is covered with concrete in the form of stairs.

 

• You can also hike towards Lake Kinneret from the other side of Route 8077. You will pass the opening of three caves in the rock face that were inhabited in prehistoric times and there have been findings from the earliest period of human history. Entry to the caves is not permitted.​